High-Yield Pulp Softening via Ozone and Cellulase Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
High yield pulp exhibits poor softness due to high lignin content, affecting fiber bonding and mechanical strength, which limits its application in paper products.
Innovation Solution
Sequential treatment of high yield pulp with ozone and cellulase to selectively remove lignin from the fiber surface, followed by cellulase hydrolysis of the amorphous region to increase fiber accessibility and softness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high yield pulp is used to achieve high yield and low pollution, then productivity is improved and environmental harm is reduced, but fiber softness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical composition of high yield pulp through controlled ozone oxidation and cellulase treatment. By adjusting treatment conditions (ozone concentration, temperature, pH, treatment time), the patent transforms the fiber properties to achieve improved softness while maintaining high yield characteristics, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and softness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses ozone as a strong oxidant to selectively remove lignin from high yield pulp fibers. This oxidation process modifies the fiber structure by breaking down lignin components, which directly improves fiber softness without significantly reducing the high yield advantage, thereby resolving the contradiction between yield and softness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If crushing-type beating process is applied to improve softness, then fiber volume is reduced, but water retention value and water-absorptivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical crushing-type beating process with a chemical treatment system using ozone and cellulase. This substitution achieves fiber softness improvement through chemical modification rather than mechanical force, preserving the fiber structure and its water retention properties while still improving softness, thus resolving the contradiction between softness and water retention.
Solution Approach 2:
By using ozone oxidation to remove lignin, the patent achieves softness improvement without the need for intensive mechanical beating. This chemical approach selectively modifies fiber surface properties and removes rigid lignin components, improving softness while maintaining the fiber's ability to retain water, thereby resolving the contradiction between softness and water retention value.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If crushing pretreatment is applied to improve softness, then inter-fiber bonding force deteriorates, but mechanical strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical crushing pretreatment with chemical treatment using ozone and cellulase. This substitution improves softness through chemical modification of fiber structure rather than mechanical breakdown, preserving inter-fiber bonding forces and maintaining mechanical strength, thus resolving the contradiction between softness and mechanical strength.
Solution Approach 2:
By using ozone oxidation to selectively remove lignin and modify fiber structure, the patent achieves softness improvement without mechanically breaking down fiber components. This chemical approach maintains the integrity of fiber cell walls and bonding structures, preserving mechanical strength while improving softness, thereby resolving the contradiction between softness and mechanical strength.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Improves fiber softness by loosening the fiber structure and enhancing water absorption, while maintaining high yield and reducing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
ozonation attacks the primary wall lignin, the outer wall of the secondary wall and the intercellular lignin, wherein the lignin side chain is oxidized (by polymer depolymerization), the aromatic ring is broken (ring-opened)
Implementation Method 2
the cellulase can hydrolyze the amorphous region of fiber, allowing water molecules to enter the fiber
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for improving fiber softness of high yield pulp, including a high yield pulp; the method comprises: treating the high yield pulp with ozone; and treating with cellulase; the disclosure offers the following advantages: The high yield pulp in the present disclosure is sequentially treated with ozone and cellulase. Removal of lignin on the surface with ozone increases the softness of the fiber and loosens the fiber structure. Therefore, treating the fiber with ozone can open a "channel" for the entry of cellulase. Then the cellulase allows water molecules to enter the fiber, and the distance between fiber macromolecule chains increases, which causes the fiber to deform with reduced stiffness, thereby improving the softness. Therefore, by treating with cellulase based on the pretreatment of high-yield pulp with ozone, the present disclosure increases the accessibility of cellulase and fiber. Besides, ozone as a green agent can improve the softness of the fiber without or with little pollution to the environment.